In an article for Politico published Monday, reporters Eli Stokols and Felicia Schwartz argued that President Donald Trump’s second term has shifted how world leaders deal with him: What was once derided is now met with flattery and deference, yet beneath the praise is growing anxiety.
They noted that foreign governments are trying hard to appease Trump — some have nominated or endorsed him for the Nobel Peace Prize, others have visited Florida to play golf with him while some refer to him in affectionate terms — all while worrying about what his unpredictable style might mean for their own security and interests.
They described how Trump has moved beyond merely rejecting globalist norms and criticizing multilateral institutions, and observed that he now seems more confident in imposing his will on the international order with leverage, threats and transactional diplomacy. They pointed out that many countries are trying to manage or placate him because traditional tools — alliances, treaties, diplomatic institutions — seem less reliable under his leadership. At the same time, the authors noted that Trump has tried to present himself as a peacemaker by emphasizing deals he has revived or broken open. However, on the biggest conflicts, his promises have fallen short.
They further noted that among U.S. allies there is fear and hedging; leaders who once believed they could influence or channel Trump now believe he may be unmanageable.
Stokols and Schwartz reported that many diplomats believe no amount of compliments or gifts can reduce his unpredictability. The article held that even as the world leans more on the U.S. because of its indispensable role, it is doing so with growing concern that the U.S. is less stable or predictable as a partner.
Meanwhile, a senior European official, who was not named, told Politico: “None of this is amusing anymore."
“Nor do the other leaders still believe they can manage Trump. They’re still trying, but he’s showing an unpredictability this time that no amount of compliments and gifts is going to change," they added.
Ian Bremmer, the president of the Eurasia Group, a New York City-based global risk assessment firm, told the outlet: “Trump has a lot of power. He has virtually no good will."
He added that U.S. allies “are scared of him and trying to hedge so they’re not as reliant on the U.S., even though they’ll defer to him to not have a near-term fight.”